Tatyanna Rodriguez has been working in the cosmetics industry for more than 2 years. Through the years, she has been very passionate about cosmetological research and natural products. She is also a known supporter of an integrative, preventive and natural approach to beauty.
Backed with her knowledge and skills as a trained esthetician, Tatyanna Rodriguez was able to create a skincare line that naturally blends health and beauty to address the most important needs and meet the most demanding requirements in skincare.
What was initially intended to address her own demanding skincare requirements, Tatyskinandbeauty has become a natural cosmeceutical line in the market that nurtures, soothes and rejuvenates.
Tatyanna Rodriguez has an inspiring story to share. Learn more about her insights and the humble beginnings of her brand in Women On Topp’s exclusive interview with the expert.
What does your work entail?
I’ve been a licensed esthetician for almost 3 years now, there are so many services in this industry, but my work includes facials, body waxing, body facials, brows and my skincare line. I like to focus on using natural products during my facial services and in my skincare line. My skincare line is handmade by me, I originally made my skincare to help my skin because I suffered from large pores and texture on my cheeks as well as lots of redness. I also had hyperpigmentation from previous acne. I made this skincare and adjusted it to my clients and it’s just slowly worked for everyone and has helped so many people.
What are your Tatyskinandbeauty goals currently?
My goal for Tatyskinandbeauty is to definitely expand. I want to create more skincare products as well as create other products for the body in the future. I really want to get more into holistic health, because my skincare really focuses on healing the skin by using these natural products. I just got a new space so I can take more clients and expand my services so I’m very excited about that. I think the vision right now is to just stay focused creating nothing but great and new products I know my clients will really love.
How do you get unstuck creatively, creating all these beautiful products?
I have so many moments of feeling stuck. Especially with making skincare and creating content. I just don’t like feeling bored or doing repetitive things so I’m always trying to think outside the box. I think what helps me is physically writing things out. If I have days where I’m brainstorming what to make for content, I will literally map out a post and make it. For products when I get stuck I turn to my clients. I ask them what they like in their skin routines and what they would want. I ask them their problem areas on their skin and I try to find ways to treat them using these natural products and I kinda just put things together over time. Making a product can take months, and I change my ingredients constantly until I’m happy with it. It’s all trial and error. But listening to my clients and just really making a layout helps me get unstuck creatively.
Describe your customers!
I am really blessed to have the customers and clients I have. My clients are very comfortable with me I would say, but that’s because I make them feel comfortable of course. I have a really great bond with a lot of my clients. We will sit and talk during the whole service like we’ve known each other for years. I have a great support system with my clients that I am beyond grateful for, they trust me, they support me and I genuinely feel they are proud of me. And I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without them!
How do you get people talking about your company? Do you use marketing strategies?
Thankfully for me I have the best clients and my business really got poppin from word of mouth. Out of nowhere I had a couple of local girls share my things and more people shared every day and it got me many clients. And lots of people to purchase my skincare. And from the endless results I’ve had, I’ve gained a lot of trust and it’s just been booming from there. Now I obviously market by making certain posts to show everyone what I do, and my clients market for me when they make these posts and share them which I appreciate so much.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful business owner?
The top 3 skills I would say are consistency, taking criticism, and being able to work well with others. I feel like these 3 things can really make or break your business. Consistency is the hardest thing. And no matter where you are in your business you’ll always have to be and stay consistent. Or your business can really hurt. You literally get what you give. Being able to take criticism is also very important because not everyone is going to love what you do, but you have to be able to push through those hurdles and stay focused. As well as sometimes you can actually improve a lot about your business by being open-minded, taking criticism and turning it into something positive. And lastly being able to work with others. Being able to be a team player and work with others is so important because your business will grow, you will eventually need to either hire a team and you will meet so many people along the way. When people can work well with you things flow greatly and who doesn’t want a great flowing business.
Tell us more about your services, how does this work?
I provide full body services, I offer many different facials for men and women, such as a 24k gold facial, or my most popular the dermaplaining facial. I offer full body waxing, brow services, back facials, booty facials, and vagacials. My facial services are done with all-natural skin care products to help heal your skin concerns and keep the skin healthy. It comes with a chest and shoulder massage and is so relaxing you might fall asleep. My body waxing is very popular especially my Brazilians. But they are even better when you add the booty facial and vagacial because they help with things like booty acne, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation (dark marks), ingrown hairs and so much more. They are really beneficial for the body and it’s always great to pamper yourself; especially when you can get it all done in one day and place!
What is most rewarding?
The most rewarding thing for me is being able to help so many people. Clients have come to me telling me how they’ve felt insecure and after they see me they feel so much more confident in their skin, and they really show it. That’s what makes me get up and do this every day despite setbacks, stress, or anything else. Being able to follow my dreams at 21 years old, helping so many men and women feel good, having people purchase my skincare and see the amazing results, It’s so rewarding and I’m always grateful to be able to do it.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
I really love reading a lot of quotes, definitely, WomanOnTop is one of my favorite types of posts to see and share because it’s always on point. I think other than skincare I really just like to be empowering, I like to feel good, strong and powerful and I think to make other women feel like that is inspiring to me. Everyday women inspire me. For my skincare, I get inspired by nature. I’ve always felt connected to plants, the natural colors, smells, just the overall feeling. That’s definitely the inspiration for my skincare.
What does the future hold? Where is the company headed?
So far for now I’m focusing on just making my brand more known to people. I really want to shift the way people look at skincare. I am planning on having a couple of drops this year for new skincare I have been working on for a while now. So be on the lookout. Definitely want to expand, I want to have a warehouse one day for all of my products to call home so I have a lot of work to do. I want to come up with more products to put in Lavish Box which is a black-owned vending if machine beauty supply in Detroit. It’s honestly amazing. My company is headed for greatness. I can’t wait to be where I want to be, where I’ve worked so hard to be, so I can help more people, my community, and my family.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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